The Holley family came to the Mississippi coast from New York in the late 1820s. It appears from Federal census data that there were five brothers and a sister all born at New York: George Holley (1800-1883), Benjamin Holley (1802-1860+), William Holley (1803-1850+), Charles Holley (1805-1857), Rebecca H. Norberg (1809-1880+), and Nicholas Holley (1810-1860+). Their mother, Rebecca Holley (1783-1860+), was born at New York. Their father was a native of Rhode Island, and appears to have died before 1850.
Benjamin Holley (1802-1860+) married Burissa Bradford (1808-1881), a native of Montville, New London County, Connecticut. She died on October 1, 1881. Some of their children were: Lyman B. Holley (1839-1894), Louis Holley (1841-1892), and Anson H. Holley (1843-1895), Sarah H. Hahn (b. 1846), and Mary Holley (b. 1847).
1850 Census
George Andrews 23 Carpenter New Hampshire
Caroline Andrews 22 Alabama
Nancy Noals 7 Alabama
George Holly 50 Carpenter New York
Rebecca Holly 67 New York
Rebecca Norburg 40 New York
William H. Norburg 21 Mass.
Benjamin Holly 40 Pilot New York
Burrisa Holly 42 Conn.
Lyman Holly 10 Miss.
Lewis Holly 9 Miss.
Anson Holly 7 Miss.
Sarah Holly 4 Miss.
Mary Holly 3 Miss.
Charles Holley 43 Mariner New York
Urseline Holley 32 Miss.
Charles Holley 14 Miss.
Jane Holley 12 Miss.
Dorothy Holley 10 Miss.
Rosanna Holley 6 Miss.
Alice Holley 1 Miss.
Nicholas Holley 40 Ship carpenter New York
Mary A. Holley 30 Miss.
Henry Holley 9 Miss.
Emma Holley 6 Miss.
Arthur Holley 2 Miss.
William Holley 45 Mariner New York
Adele Holley 38 Miss.
Nicholas Holley 17 Seaman Miss.
Margaret Holley 15 Miss.
Alfred Holley 13 Miss.
Delphine Holley 11 Miss.
William Holley 10 Miss.
Rovina Holley 6 Miss.
1860 Census
Biloxi
George W. Andrew 89? Master Carpenter New Hampshire
Caroline Andrews 29 Miss.
Asa Andrews 2 Miss.
John Andrews 3/12 Miss.
Rebecca Holley 77 New York
Rebecca Norberg 51 New York
William H. Norberg 31 Justise of the Peace Miss.
Benjamin Holley 58 Justice of the Peace New York
Burissa Bradford 52 (wife) Conn.
Lyman B. Holley 20 Clerk Miss.
Lewis Holley 18 Clerk Miss.
Anson Holley 16 Miss.
Sarah Holley 14 Miss.
Mary A. Holley 12 Miss.
George Holley 60 Probate Judge New York
Jane E. Holley England
Pass Christian
Nicholas Holley 27 Carpenter Miss.
A. Holley (f) 27 Dressmaker Miss.
Jo Holley (m) 4 Miss.
D. Holley (f) 7/12 Miss.
Flint Creek
Nicholas Holley 50 Farmer New York
Mary Ann Holley 41 Miss.
Henry Holley 19 Miss.
Arthur Holley 11 Miss.
Walter Holley 8 Miss.
Martha Holley 6 Miss.
Mary Ann Holley 4 Miss.
John Holley 1 Miss.
1870 Census
North Biloxi
Marian Holley 45 Keeping House Miss.
Henry Holley 25 Laborer Miss.
Emma Holley 23
Walter Holley 19
Martha Holley 17
Arthur Holley 13
Mary Holley 11
John Holley 9
George Holley 75 Probate Judge Miss.
Sarah Holley 68 Miss.
William Holley 30 Seaman Miss.
Eliza Holley 26 Keeping House Miss.
Julia Holley 3 Miss.
Biloxi
George Andrews 47 Carpenter Mass.
Caroline Andrews 38 Keeping House Ala.
John Andrews 9 Miss.
George Andrews 5 Miss.
Dudley Andrews 4 Miss.
Anson Holley 26 Laborer Miss.
Adelia Holley 24 Keeping house Ireland
(living with Maria Younghans, the lighthouse keeper)
Burissa Bradford Holley 62 Keeping House Conn.
Lyman Holley 30 Carpenter Miss.
Louis Holley 28 Miss.
Mary Holley 22 Miss.
Mississippi City
Frederic Holley 35 Seaman Miss.
Sarah Holley 28 Keeping House Miss.
Emma Holley 11
John Holley 4
Laura Holley 2
Marcellim Holley 60 Keeping House Miss.
Cooley Holey 35 Laborer
John Holey 30
Snow Holley 23
Henry Holley 19
Nancy Holley 17
Toby Holley 12
Robert Holley 10
Camille Holley 27 Keeping House Miss.
Jasper Holley 12
Flora Holley 10
Victoria Holley 3
Edward Holley 1
compiled for Jean Andrews Cecil
January 20, 1998
by Ray L. Bellande